Green Party reaffirms support for nominees Jill Stein and Ajamu Baraka at the Dakota Access Pipeline protest after charges are filed

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Green Party leaders reaffirmed the party's support for presidential nominee Jill Stein and running mate Ajamu Baraka as they face charges for civil disobedience during the ongoing protest against the Dakota Access Pipeline.

"The Green Party stands in solidarity with Native Americans and others gathering at the Standing Rock Sioux reservation. The oil pipeline poses a serious danger to local drinking water -- it was moved away from Bismarck for this very reason. It desecrates Lakota burial ground on land seized from the tribe. It shows that the Obama Administration, deferring to Energy Transfer Partners and the Army Corps of Engineers, still refuses to take the climate crisis and fossil-fuel consumption seriously," said Chris Blankenhorn, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States.

Party leaders urged the state of North Dakota to drop all charges against Dr. Stein, Mr. Baraka, and all water defenders at Standing Rock. Greens called for indictments against those responsible for sending the dogs, for the immediate resignation of the sheriff, and for restoration of full decision-making power over the Dakota pipeline to the Lakota nation and other communities affected by its route.

"Local law enforcement ought to spend less time protecting capitalism and more time protecting people and the environment. As an anti-capitalist party, we are astounded by the stretch of logic that puts a spray paint mark in a more serious category than destroying the graves of indigenous ancestors, as well as destroying water, land, and air. We're very proud of Dr. Stein and Ajamu Baraka for taking direct action," said Andrea Mérida Cuéllar, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States.

As of today, Dr. Stein remains the only presidential candidate to take a public position on the pipeline standoff. Greens noted that more than two dozen major banks, including Goldman Sachs and others with close ties to Hillary Clinton, are financing the pipeline's construction.

According to Oil & Gas Journal, "Planned pipeline construction to be completed in 2016 increased 64% from the year prior, with expected products, crude, and natural gas project completions all climbing".

Pipeline and fracking companies are using eminent domain to seize property from private owners in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and other states.

Greens are maintaining hope that the climate crisis can be averted as citizen action blocks fossil-fuel projects like the Keystone XL pipeline. Green candidates are promoting a "Green New Deal" to fight the advance of climate change by converting to 100% clean, renewable energy by 2030.